Senate passes Greenstein, Stack bill to increase transparency in development of data centers
The New Jersey Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senators Linda Greenstein and Brian P. Stack that would prohibit certain nondisclosure agreements in proposed data center developments. The bill follows a $1.07 million environmental fine against DataOne in Vineland for operating 62 natural-gas generators without required permits.
The New Jersey Senate approved S-4304, legislation sponsored by Sens. Linda Greenstein and Brian P. Stack that would bar data center applicants and their agents from using certain nondisclosure agreements to conceal proposed developments from the public. Applicants would also have to attest that no such agreement was used in a related real estate transaction, and authorities could deny required approvals for violations.
The measure comes after the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection fined DataOne $1.07 million in September for installing and operating 62 large natural-gas generators at its Vineland data center without required permits. The state described the penalty as the largest ever imposed on a data center in New Jersey.